Tag Archives: Television

Girls Episode 1.6 Recap

May 22, 2012

No new images available for this week. Sorry guys.

This is the episode we’ve been waiting for, everybody! “The Return”, episode six of Girls, marks executive producer Judd Apatow’s first appearance as co-writer on the show. After five episodes of Lena Dunham solely at the helm, it’s a bit of a relief to have someone else in the mix creatively; There were a few episodes there that were occasionally sluggish.

But that was then. Now, we’re in Michigan!

With a garbage bag of laundry in tow, Hannah visits her parents for their 30th anniversary. This return home gives Hannah the opportunity to see what her life could have been like if she hadn’t decided on becoming a writer and living in New York. And, as with any return of the prodigal son to la familia, Hannah eats all the leftovers in her parents’ fridge (with her hands), sleeps in until lunch, and gives her mother permanent bitch-face.

While on an errand for her mother, Hannah meets Erik, the sweet, long-haired pharmacist, who is essentially the antithesis of Adam. (I can’t believe Adam, “the douche,” is still factoring in on this show. But, he is.) Erik remembers Hannah from high school distinctly, is interested in her, and horrified by Hannah’s frank behaviour in bed. Up until this episode, I thought Adam was abusing Hannah emotionally, and I guess he still is, but that’s clearly what she wants out of her relationships and sex.

Her (surprisingly not caustic) conversation with Adam – “I don’t even care if you get my name wrong.” — and his description of New York City from his apartment window have Hannah smiling by the end of the episode, showing that, even though they’re not easy, Adam and New York are Hannah’s. In the end, the alternate life presented to Hannah in “The Return”, that of a florist/teacher with a blonde, caring boyfriend and without rent to pay, won’t make Hannah “the voice of her generation” and that’s what’s most important to her.

Oh, and another thing:
- Is Shosh still a virgin? Yes. Yes, she is. Well, who really knows? We’ve barely seen Shoshanna these last couple episodes. Bring back the Spwan of Mamet!
- There’s a Parker Poesy Party Girl poster on Hannah’s wall and little else.
- Plenty of Goo Goo Dolls love on tonight’s episode.
- Hannah’s mother needs her prescription now — now! — but Hannah still manages to squeeze in a lunch and score a date.
- “You are from New York and, therefore, you’re just naturally interesting.” I often forget why anyone could like Hannah, and then she delivers this pep talk to her reflection before a date.
- I was just as cynical as Hannah during Blonde Friend With Beret’s little “derrière” dance at The Benefit For Kary Lawrence. That might pass in Michigan, but you’re leaving for L.A. in the morning, kid. Also, your boyfriend’s so gay.
- I was unsure if Tad’s Annie Hall impersonation was supposed to be Woody Allen… or Christopher Walken.

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Girls Episode 1.4 Recap

May 7, 2012

After a week away, Sasha James returns to give us our weekly re-cap of HBO’s Girls, the show that took four episodes to get around to mentioning brunch. Continue reading

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Game of Thrones Episode 2.5 Review

April 29, 2012

It’s hard to believe the season is already half over, but HBO’s Game of Thrones continues to go strong in its fifth episode, entitled “The Ghost of Harrenhal.” Gruesome deaths, political schemes, hard truths, and revenge are par for the course in this series and nowhere is that more evident than in this episode. Continue reading

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Girls Episode 1.2 Review

April 23, 2012

Sasha James returns for a recap of the second episode of HBO’s Girls, the show that no matter if you love it or hate it, looks like it’s staying around for a while. Continue reading

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Game of Thrones Episode 2.4 Review

April 22, 2012

Starting with a fart joke and a direwolf mauling, “Garden of Bones” is an episode full of timely interventions and fateful confrontations, as well as one of the most disturbing cliffhangers you’re ever likely to see on TV. Despite some missteps, HBO’s Game of Thrones continues to be one of the most compelling shows on television with this fourth episode of the second season. Continue reading

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Girls Episode 1.1 Review

April 17, 2012

Sasha James takes us through the debut episode of HBO’s Girls. You might have heard of this one. Continue reading

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Game of Thrones Episode 2.3 Review

April 15, 2012

Noah Taylor tags in for our weekly recap of Game of Thrones – Episode 2.3 – “What is Dead May Never Die.” Continue reading

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Game of Thrones Episode 2.2 Review

April 8, 2012

The second episode of the Clash of Kings season of Game of Thrones, entitled “The Night Lands,” is extremely well developed, but it’s also the most gratuitously smutty of the four episodes of season two that Dork Shelf has seen. We get lots of Tyrion, we get some fun original scenes, we’re introduced to a colorful pirate in Salladhor Saan and we finally get to glimpse of Pyke and the Iron Islands. With season two, the showrunners continue to demonstrate impressive juggling ability. Continue reading

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Game of Thrones Episode 2.1 Review

April 1, 2012

HBO’s Game of Thrones is back, and it’s at its sprawling, brutal best in the premiere episode of the second season. In “The North Remembers,” the narrative jumps regularly across continents to re-introduce the audience to the characters, and the rapidly changing world they inhabit. That the episode reconciles all this, and accomplishes these tasks in a satisfying dramatic package is a pretty remarkable feat of storytelling. Continue reading

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Game of Thrones Season 2 Preview

March 28, 2012

The much anticipated second season of HBO’s Game of Thrones debuts this weekend on HBO Canada. We’ve seen the first four episodes of the upcoming season, and there’s a lot that fans of the novels and the series will be happy about for this second go around. Continue reading

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Interview: Michelle Fairley of Game of Thrones

March 12, 2012

Last week we were fortunate enough to speak with actress Michelle Fairley, who plays Winterfell matriarch Cateyln Stark on HBO’s Game of Thrones. We discussed the series, her character’s headspace at the beginning of this season, Fairley’s favourite season two characters, what the future holds for Catelyn Stark, and more! Continue reading

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Game of Thrones: The Exhibition Preview

March 10, 2012

Game of Thrones: The Exhibition opened yesterday in Toronto, and runs for he next eight days at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Dork Shelf was lucky enough to get a guided tour on Thursday, and we were pretty impressed by all of the costumes, props, and weaponry from HBO’s fantasy series that were on display. Continue reading

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